Ukraine accuses Russia of attacking Snizhne in airstrike, killed 11

Ukraine is accusing Russia of being responsible for an airstrike in the the pro-Russia rebel-held town of Snizhne in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. If proved to be true, this would be the first known incident where a Russian warplane has been involved in the Ukrainian conflict.

The air attack occurred early morning on Tuesday, hitting several buildings, and collapsing two parts of an apartment block. A total of 12 apartment units were demolished in the collapsed apartment building. The town’s health officials said that 11 people were killed in the airstrike, and 8 others, including a child, were injured.

A rebel commander only identified by his first name, Sergei, told reporters that eyewitnesses saw Ukraine markings on the warplane that carried out that attack. Other residents told the media they had “no doubt” the Ukrainian government was behind the bombing.

However, Ukrainian defence analyst Dmitry Tymchuk argued in a Facebook post that, “Only Russian aviation could have performed the airstrike on Snizhne,” as it is unlikely the rebels possess any planes capable of airstrikes, and no Ukrainian warplanes have been on sorties since Monday, after an An-26 transport plane was downed.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry had stopped short of saying that Russia is responsible for the attack. However, the ministry has stressed that none of its warplanes were dispatched Tuesday morning. According to reports, Security Council spokesman Andrei Lysenko labeled the attack as a "cynical and bloody provocation", hinting that Moscow had launched the airstrike.